EPSRC CDT in Metamaterials: Bio-Chemical Sensing with Photonic Metamaterials

The studentship is part of the EPSRC Centre of Doctoral Training in Metamaterials (XM2). Its aim is to undertake world-leading research, while training scientists and engineers with the relevant research skills and knowledge, and professional attributes for industry and academia.

A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a device that integrates one or several laboratory functions on a single millimetre scale chip. The main application for this technology was originally considered in clinical diagnostics, but the technology has recently demonstrated its high potential in diverse fields, including environmental monitoring, the food industry and veterinary and industrial process control. At the University of Exeter we have developed a novel highly-sensitive and ultra-compact approach for LOC biochemical fluid detection based on a silicon photonics platform. Silicon photonics is the most promising technology for the realisation of the future LOCs systems, demonstrating significant advantages over current real time diagnosis methods in terms of high compactness and an inexpensive mass fabrication, as well as faster analyses time and remote operation. This PhD project will be focused on the design, fabrication and testing of ab on-chip micro-fluidic detection systems based on a tunable photonic metamaterial technology. The photonic metamaterial designs, such as 1D and 2D photonic crystals, will allow compact integration of multiple sensing systems on the same chip and simultaneous detection of different liquids on the same device. The student will get a unique opportunity to be involved in development of the Exeter’s LOC system from design of individual sensing components and their fabrication to their characterization and testing for sensing of various bio-chemical fluidic composites.